Buckle for chest strap of knapsack

Abstract

Provided is a buckle for a chest strap of a knapsack, including a plug member including a plug plane portion formed at a front side of a base so as to be connected to the base via a plug inner-side slope, a plug front-end slope extending forward from the plug plane portion, a first magnet embedded in a middle portion of the plug plane portion, and coupling protrusions protruding from opposite sides of the first magnet, and a socket member including a socket plane portion formed at a front side of a base so as to be connected to the base via a socket inner-side slope, a socket front-end slope extending forward from the socket plane portion, a second magnet embedded in a middle portion of the socket plane portion, and coupling recesses formed in opposite sides of the second magnet so as to correspond to the respective coupling protrusions.

Claims

1. A buckle for a chest strap of a knapsack, comprising: a plug member including a plug plane portion formed at a front side of a plug member base so as to be connected to the plug member base via a plug inner-side slope, a plug front-end slope extending forward from the plug plane portion, a first magnet embedded in a middle portion of the plug plane portion, and coupling protrusions aligned vertically and protruding from opposite sides of the first magnet; and a socket member including a socket plane portion formed at a front side of a socket member base so as to be connected to the socket member base via a socket inner-side slope, a socket front-end slope extending forward from the socket plane portion, a second magnet embedded in a middle portion of the socket plane portion, and coupling recesses formed in opposite sides of the second magnet so as to correspond to the respective coupling protrusions, wherein the plug member and the socket member are separably connected to each other, wherein each of the coupling protrusions of the plug member includes a hook portion formed on an inner front end thereof and a curvilinearly curved portion formed on an outer surface thereof, and each of the coupling recesses of the socket member includes a raised portion formed on an outer circumference thereof so as to correspond to the hook portion of each of the coupling protrusions, and wherein each of the coupling recesses of the socket member further includes an inclined guide portion formed on an inner circumference thereof so as to define an upwardly expanded opening so that the inclined guide portion comes into contact with the curvilinearly inclined portion to enable easy separation of each of the coupling protrusions of the plug member from each of the coupling recesses.

2. The buckle according to claim 1, wherein each of an exterior angle between the plug plane portion and the plug inner-side slope, an interior angle between the plug plane portion and the plug front-end slope of the plug member, an exterior angle between the socket plane portion and the socket inner-side slope, and an interior angle between the socket plane portion and the socket front-end slope of the socket member is an obtuse angle having a same degree.

3. The buckle according to claim 1, wherein, when the plug member and the socket member are coupled to each other so that the plug plane portion and the socket plane portion are attached to face each other by the first and second magnets, the plug front-end slope and the socket inner-side slope are located close to each other so as to face each other, and the socket front-end slope and the plug inner-side slope are located close to each other so as to face each other.

4. The buckle according to claim 1, wherein the inclined guide portion has a smaller inclination angle than an inclination angle of the curvilinearly inclined portion.

5. The buckle according to claim 1, wherein each of the plug member or the socket member includes either a crossbar or a strap-hooking bar, which are selectively formed at a rear side of the respective plug member base or socket member base.

6. The buckle according to claim 1, wherein the plug member or the socket member includes an elevating rail holder provided on a rear end thereof so as to be vertically movably coupled to a rail, which is installed on a shoulder strap of the knapsack.

7. The buckle according to claim 1, wherein the plug member includes a seating recess formed in an outer surface thereof so that an external magnet, which corresponds to the first magnet embedded in the plug member, is seated.

8. The buckle according to claim 7, wherein the seating recess and the embedded first magnet are connected to each other via an aperture.

9. The buckle according to claim 7, wherein the seating recess is provided on a circumference thereof with a protruding support portion to support the external magnet seated in the seating recess.

10. A buckle for a chest strap of a knapsack, comprising: a plug member including a plug plane portion formed at a front side of a plug member base so as to be connected to the plug member base via a plug inner-side slope, a plug front-end slope extending forward from the plug plane portion, a first magnet embedded in a middle portion of the plug plane portion, coupling protrusions vertically aligned and protruding from opposite sides of the first magnet, and a seating recess formed in an outer surface of the plug plane portion; and a socket member including an elevating rail holder having a circular cross-sectional rail groove formed at a rear side of a socket member base, a socket plane portion formed at a front side of the socket member base so as to be connected to the socket member base via a socket inner-side slope, a socket front-end slope extending forward from the socket plane portion, a second magnet embedded in a middle portion of the socket plane portion, and coupling recesses formed in opposite sides of the second magnet so as to correspond to the respective coupling protrusions, wherein the plug member and the socket member are separably connected to each other wherein each of the coupling protrusions of the plug member includes a hook portion formed on an inner front end thereof and a curvilinearly curved portion formed on an outer surface thereof, and each of the coupling recesses of the socket member includes a raised portion formed on an outer circumference thereof so as to correspond to the hook portion of each of the coupling protrusions, and wherein each of the coupling recesses of the socket member further includes an inclined guide portion formed on an inner circumference thereof so as to define an upwardly expanded opening so that the inclined guide portion comes into contact with the curvilinearly inclined portion to enable easy separation of each of the coupling protrusions of the plug member from each of the coupling recesses.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a conventional knapsack;

(3) FIG. 2 is a view illustrating an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a knapsack;

(4) FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a buckle according to the present invention;

(5) FIG. 4 is a rear exploded perspective view of FIG. 3;

(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the coupled state of the buckle according to the present invention;

(7) FIG. 6 is a front view illustrating the coupled state of the buckle according to the present invention;

(8) FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 6;

(9) FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 6;

(10) FIG. 9 is a sectional view illustrating the separated state of FIG. 8;

(11) FIG. 10 is a sectional view illustrating the operational state of the buckle according to the present invention;

(12) FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of the buckle according to the present invention; and

(13) FIG. 12 is a view illustrating an embodiment in which the buckle of FIG. 11 is applied to a knapsack.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(14) FIG. 2 is a view illustrating an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a knapsack, FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a buckle according to the present invention, FIG. 4 is a rear exploded perspective view of FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the coupled state of the buckle according to the present invention, FIG. 6 is a front view illustrating the coupled state of the buckle according to the present invention, FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 6, FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 6, and FIG. 9 is a sectional view illustrating the separated state of FIG. 8.

(15) Referring to FIGS. 2 to 9, the buckle according to the present invention broadly includes a plug member 100 and a socket member 200, which are separably coupled to each other. Both members are generally molded using a synthetic resin, and are used by being installed to a chest strap 320 of a knapsack 300, as illustrated in FIG. 2, which is a view illustrating the buckle in use.

(16) More specifically, the chest strap 320 is connected to the upper middle portions of shoulder straps 310, which are installed on the back surface of the knapsack 300, so as to extend therebetween. A vertically elongated rail 311 is installed on the outer surface of each shoulder strap 310, and the chest strap 320 is vertically movably installed on the rail 311. In order to couple or separate the middle portion of the chest strap 320, the plug member 100 and the socket member 200 according to the present invention are installed thereon.

(17) Each of the plug member 100 and the socket member 200 may be provided with an elevating buckle 321, which has a rail groove for coupling with the rail 311 and is connected to the member via a strap 322, or an elevating rail holder 202 having a rail groove 203 may be integrally formed with each of the plug member 100 and the socket member 200. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the strap 322 is connected to the plug member 100, and the elevating rail holder 202 is integrally formed with the socket member 200.

(18) The reason why at least one of the plug member 100 and the socket member 200 is connected to the elevating buckle 321 via the strap 322 is to allow the chest strap 320 to be adjusted in height so as to be suitable for the user's body by adjusting the length of the strap 322.

(19) The rail groove of the elevating buckle 321, the rail groove 203 formed in the socket member 200, and the rail 311 installed on the shoulder strap 310 have a circular cross section, so that the rail 311 of the shoulder strap 320 is movably fitted into each rail groove, which may cause vertical movement of the chest strap 320.

(20) The plug member 100 includes a base 101, and a crossbar 102 and a strap-hooking bar 103, which are located side by side at the rear side of the base 101 and extend in the transverse direction of the plug member 100 so as to fix a free end of the strap 322. A plug plane portion 104 is formed at the inner front side of the base 101 and is connected to the base 101 via a plug inner-side slope 105. A plug front-end slope 106 extends forward from the plug plane portion 104.

(21) Here, the exterior angle between the plug plane portion 104 and the plug inner-side slope 105 and the interior angle between the plug plane portion 104 and the plug front-end slope 106 may be the same obtuse angle. As such, the plug inner-side slope 105 and the plug front-end slope 106 are parallel to each other.

(22) A first magnet 110 is embedded in the middle portion of the plug plane portion 104, and coupling protrusions 107 protrude from opposite sides of the first magnet 110 toward the socket member 200.

(23) The elevating rail holder 202, which has a rail groove 203 having a circular cross section, is located at the rear side of a base 201 of the socket member 200, and a socket plane portion 204 is formed at the outer front side of the base 201 and is connected to the base 201 via a socket inner-side slope 205. In addition, a socket front-end slope 206 extends forward from the socket plane portion 204.

(24) Here, the exterior angle between the socket plane portion 204 and the socket inner-side slope 205 and the interior angle between the socket plane portion 204 and the socket front-end slope 206 may be the same obtuse angle. As such, the socket inner-side slope 205 and the socket front-end slope 206 are parallel to each other.

(25) A second magnet 210 is embedded in the middle portion of the socket plane portion 204, and coupling recesses 207 are formed in opposite sides of the second magnet 210.

(26) As illustrated in the sectional views of FIGS. 7 and 8, the plane portion 104 and the respective slopes 105 and 106 of the plug member 100 are configured so as to correspond to and come into close contact with the plane portion 204 and the respective slopes 205 and 206 of the socket member 200. At this time, the first magnet 110 and the second magnet 210 correspond to and are attached to each other, and the coupling protrusions 107 of the plug member 100 are fitted and coupled into the coupling recesses 207 in the socket member 200.

(27) As seen in the sectional views, when the plug member 100 and the socket member 200 are coupled to each other, the centers of the first magnet 110 and the second magnet 210 may coincide with each other, and the respective slopes of the plug member 100 and the socket member 200, which come into close contact with each other, may have a slight distance therebetween. This serves to secure a slight movement space, which is required when the plug member 100 and the socket member 200 are initially pushed toward each other for unfastening the buckle.

(28) The coupling configuration of the coupling protrusion 107 and the coupling recess 207 is illustrated in detail in FIGS. 8 and 9. As illustrated, the coupling protrusion 107 of the plug member 100 is provided on the front end thereof with a hook portion 108, the outer surface of the coupling protrusion 107 is configured as a curvilinearly inclined portion 109, and the coupling recess 207 in the socket member 200 is provided on the outer circumference thereof with a raised portion 208, which corresponds to the hook portion 108 of the coupling protrusion 107.

(29) The coupling recess 207 may be larger than the coupling protrusion 107 in order to ensure smooth introduction of the coupling protrusion 107. In the state in which the plug member 100 and the socket member 200 are coupled to each other via the attachment of the first magnet 110 and the second magnet 210, the hook portion 108 of the coupling protrusion 107 is slightly spaced apart from the raised portion 208 of the coupling recess 207 so as to come into contact therewith when the plug member 100 and the socket member 200 are separated from each other in opposite directions or in the vertical direction.

(30) However, since a general buckle used for the connection of a strap has the feature whereby the plug member 100 and the socket member 200 are adapted to pull each other so long as no opposing force is intentionally applied, the hook portion 108 and the raised portion 208 may continuously come into contact with each other in the state of facing each other so as to prevent unintentional separation of the buckle despite movement of the human body or the shock of an external contact that is greater than the magnetic attachment force.

(31) In addition, although the plug member 100 and the socket member 200 may be separated from each other despite the contact of the hook portion 108 and the raised portion 208 when an attempt is made to vertically separate them from each other, such vertical separation is very difficult in the state in which the plug member 100 and the socket member 200 are attached to each other by the strong magnetic force. That is, separation of the plug member 100 and the socket member 200 is achieved only when each member is pushed in the forward direction thereof, such that the hook portion 108 and the raised portion 208 have no effect on each other.

(32) To this end, the curvilinearly inclined portion 109 is formed on the front end of the coupling protrusion 107 opposite to the hook portion 108 so that the front end of the coupling protrusion 107 is gradually tapered so as to be easily separated from the coupling recess 207. The curvilinearly inclined portion 109 may be simply configured as an inclined portion.

(33) In addition, the inner circumference of the coupling recess 207, which comes into contact with the curvilinearly inclined portion 109, is provided with an inclined guide portion 209, which smoothly guides the curvilinearly curved portion 109 of the coupling protrusion 107 outward.

(34) Accordingly, the inner sidewall of the coupling recess 207 protrudes slightly at the middle portion thereof, and the inclined guide portion 209 extends from the protruding middle portion of the inner sidewall so as to outwardly expand the coupling recess 207. In the state in which the plug member 100 and the socket member 200 are magnetically coupled to each other, the root portion of the curvilinearly inclined portion 109 comes into contact with the outer circumference of the inclined guide portion 209, and the remaining portion of the curvilinearly inclined portion 109 and the inclined guide portion 209 are spaced apart from each other by a gradually increasing distance. To this end, the inclination angle f of the inclined guide portion 209 may be smaller than the inclination angle d of the curvilinearly curved portion 109.

(35) The action of the buckle according to the present invention having the configuration described above will be described below.

(36) First, when one member, among the plug member 100 and the socket member 200, is brought close to the other member in order to couple the plug member 100 and the socket member 200 to each other, the plug member 100 and the socket member 200 attract each other by the magnetic force of the first magnet 110 and the second magnet 210, thereby causing the first magnet 110 and the second magnet 210 to be momentarily attached to each other. Thereby, as illustrated in FIG. 10(A), the plug member 100 and the socket member 200 are coupled to and come into close contact with each other.

(37) The respective plane portions 104 and 204 of the plug member 100 and the socket member 200 come into close contact with each other, the plug inner-side slope 105 and the socket front-end slope 206 come into close contact with each other, the plug front-end slope 106 and the socket inner-side slope 205 come into close contact with each other, and the coupling protrusion 107 is momentarily inserted into and coupled to the coupling recess 207.

(38) The coupling of the plug member 100 and the socket member 200, described above, is automatically performed with the strong magnetic attraction of the first magnet 110 and the second magnet 210, and the attachment of the first magnet 110 and the second magnet 210 is achieved at an accurate position by the guidance of contact of the crossing slopes. In the course of the momentary coupling, the coupling protrusion 107 is inserted into and seated in the coupling recess 207.

(39) When the plug member 100 and the socket member 200 are simply pulled in opposite directions or vertically lifted while in the coupled state described above, the plug member 100 and the socket member 200 are not separated from each other owing to the coupling relationship between the hook portion 108 of the coupling protrusion 107 and the raised portion 208 of the coupling recess 207.

(40) In order to separate the plug member 100 from the socket member 200, as illustrated in FIG. 10(B), pushing force is applied to the rear portions of the plug member 100 and the socket member 200 so as to push them forward toward each other. Through this pushing operation, the plug inner-side slope 105 and the socket front-end slope 206, which are located close to each other with a very slight gap therebetween, and the plug front-end slope 106 and the socket inner-side slope 205, which are located close to each other with a very slight gap therebetween, cross each other while sliding so as to naturally lift each other, thereby causing the attached surfaces of the first magnet 110 and the second magnet 210 to be separated from each other.

(41) Simultaneously with the above-described operation, the curvilinearly inclined portion 109 of the coupling protrusion 107 slidably comes into contact with the inclined guide portion 209 of the coupling recess 207, thereby causing the coupling protrusion 107 to be smoothly separated from the coupling recess 207. Thereby, as illustrated in FIG. 10(C), the plug member 100 and the socket member 200 are separated from each other.

(42) Accordingly, the plug member 100 and the socket member 200 according to the present invention may be simply separated from each other when they are pushed toward each other, rather than being pulled in opposite directions for separation therebetween as in the case of a conventional buckle.

(43) Because the plug member 100 and the socket member 200 may be momentarily coupled to each other by the magnets 110 and 210, even while the coupling between the plug member 100 and the socket member 200 is being implemented with one hand, an operation of coupling and separating, for example, a belt or a strap may be performed with the other hand in some cases. The ability to perform different operations at the same time with respective hands is very advantageous.

(44) For example, in a situation, such as, for example, performing any of various tasks or climbing, one hand may often be used to grip or hold something. In this situation, it may be difficult to couple or release a buckle using two hands.

(45) Therefore, the fact that the buckle may be coupled or released with only one hand in the situation mentioned above may provide excellent convenience. In particular, even if the user wears thick gloves, the user may simply unfasten the buckle of the present invention by gripping the plug member 100 and the socket member 200 and pushing rear portions thereof with one hand.

(46) FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, in addition to the configuration illustrated in the embodiment of FIGS. 2 to 10, in the present embodiment, a seating recess 120 is formed in the outer surface of the plug member 100 in order to enable the attachment of any small article using an external magnet or any external attachment member that is influenced by magnetic force.

(47) The seating recess 120 is formed at a position that is coincident with the first magnet 110 inside the plug member 100. An aperture 121 is formed in the center of the seating recess 120 so that the magnetic force of the first magnet 110 is directly transferred to the outside through the aperture 121, and a support rim portion 122 is formed on the outer circumference of the seating recess 120.

(48) When the user who wears a knapsack goes climbing or trekking, the user may carry a water bottle 330 or a water container in the knapsack 300 illustrated in FIG. 12, and may try to drink water through a hose 331 of the water bottle 330 without taking off the knapsack 300. In this case, a fixing member 332, which is formed of a metal that responds to magnetic force or an external magnet, may be installed on the chest strap 320 so as to be attached to the end of the hose 331. Thereby, when the fixing member 332 is seated in the seating recess 120 of the buckle according to the present invention, it may assist the user in conveniently carrying the hose 331 and drinking water through the hose 331 as needed.

(49) The fixing member 332 may remain in the stably attached state due to the magnetic force while seated in the seating recess 120, and may also remain in the firmly fixed state without easy separation due to the support rim portion 122, which is formed on the outer circumference of the seating recess 120.

(50) As is apparent from the above description, in a configuration in which a plug member and a socket member are coupled to each other according to the present invention, the plug member and the socket member may be coupled to each other using magnets without lock arms for fastening therebetween, which may result in a simplified configuration, increased productivity, and reduced manufacturing costs.

(51) According to the present invention, the plug member and the socket member are respectively provided with magnets, which correspond to each other so as to be coupled to each other via strong magnetic attraction therebetween even when they are simply brought close to each other. Thereby, the coupling and separation may be conveniently achieved with only one hand. In addition, the coupled state of the plug member and the socket member may be stably maintained by, for example, a coupling protrusion and a coupling recess formed on the plug member and the socket member so as to correspond to each other.

(52) In addition, through the use of the magnets for coupling the plug member and the socket member to each other, a hose of a water bottle or some other small article may be simply attached to and carried along with the buckle according to the present invention.